Click on a lesson title to see the lesson plan. Those with the video icon next to the title include video of the lesson in progress.

AEROSPACE

Arrays, Strings, Scope and Other Magical Stuff
By P.K. Imbrie, Texas A&M University (Currently at Purdue University)

In this lab, students will be learning about computer programming using the C programming language.  The goal of this lab is to provide students with exercises that accelerate learning of fundamental computer programming materials through repetitive practice and through looking at programming from more than one angle.

Lego Robot-Autonomous Maze Traveler  
By P.K. Imbrie, Texas A&M University (Currently at Purdue University)

In this project, student teams will use a Lego® Mind Storms kit  to design, build and program a robot that will autonomously traverse through a simple maze.  The purpose of this project is to help the students develop their logical processing skills. 

         CHEMICAL

Steady-State Open System Devices
By Don Richards, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

In Steady State Devices, students learn about steady-state, open-system devices (such as turbines, pumps, nozzles, etc.) through the cooperative learning exercise Jigsaw.  Using this method, different students study different aspects of these devices, becoming the “experts” on only their given aspect.  The class then comes back together to teach each other about the devices as a whole.

Hot Air Balloon Project -1
By Veronica Burrows (Chemical and Materials Engineering), Arizona State University

Hot Air Balloon Project -2
By Veronica Burrows (Chemical and Materials Engineering), Arizona State University

COMPUTER SCIENCE

 

Database Management Project
By Susan Urban and Suzanne Dietrich, Arizona State University
 

In this lesson, student teams will design, implement and test a database for a “real world” user.  Each team contacts and arranges to create a database for a different client.  Clients are often located on campus, in the business community or in the field of education (K-12). 

 

Modeling Project
Developed by Dr. Jeff Froyd, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
 

          ENGINEERING STATISTICS

Human Histogram
By Teri Rhoads, University of Oklahoma 

In this classroom activity, students are introduced to the concepts of central tendency and variation. Students line up by birthday in twelve lines, one for each month, and form a human histogram. The histogram provides a visual illustration of central tendency, and allows for the introduction of the concept of probability, i.e., the probability that two people will share the same birthday.

FRESHMAN ENGINEERING LESSONS

Widget Inspection and Team Activity
By Patricia Brackin, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

The purpose of this activity is to have each student inspect the widget created by a teammate. Students follow a checklist in making these evaluations.

Internal Flow Jigsaw
By Don Richards, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

This lesson was designed to allow the students to work in teams to review class material. They will do this using the jigsaw approach, in which different teams take on different material. The class then comes together as a group at the end and shares the different information obtained. In this particular case, teams will be assigned to study (in given text sections) and answer questions on either laminar or turbulent flow.

Thermal Systems Board Problems
By Richard Layton, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

The purpose of this lesson is to have student teams work together to solve thermal systems problems. Each team is provided with a set of problems/examples. Each of the examples is followed by a series of instructions and opportunities to check the consistency of work before moving on. Each team uses a different whiteboard. Once all teams have completed the board work, one member of each team will be randomly chosen to discuss one of the problems. Other teams will contribute feedback to the presenting team.

Teambuilding Workshop I
Developed by the First Year Engineering Program faculty at Ohio State University (with support from the Gateway Engineering Education Coalition and NSF)

In a one hour workshop, student teams learn about different learning styles, the dynamics of effective teams, how to manage possible conflicts in their groups, and how to write an effective team agreement. During the presentation students participate in a short teambuilding activity in which they have to create a beam using materials, constraints, and requirements outlined in a handout. During the presentation students also complete the Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire (Felder & Soloman) and record their results.

This workshop takes place during Engineering 181, which is the first course of the two-course sequence Fundamentals of Engineering I for First-Year Students at Ohio State University. This course sequence is required for entrance to the engineering major.

Teambuilding Workshop II
Developed by the First Year Engineering Program faculty at Ohio State University (with support from the Gateway Engineering Education Coalition and NSF)

The purpose of this activity is to have teams assess their performance as a team after having operated as one for the duration of the quarter. At the beginning of the quarter, they participated in Teambuilding Workshop I.  

FRESHMAN ENGINEERING LABS

Beam Bending
Developed by the First Year Engineering Program faculty at Ohio State University (with support from the Gateway Engineering Education Coalition and NSF)

Student teams will perform a bending test on a series of materials of different shapes. This test will allow the students to compare different materials and shapes by measuring the deflection using a cantilever beam.

         FRESHMAN ENGINEERING DESIGN PROJECT

Bungee Omelet
By Ron Roedel, Arizona State University

In this project, student teams will develop a bungee jump design using theory coupled with experimental measurements of the parameters or variables necessary for accurately modeling. The bungee designs will be demonstrated in a competition to see which team's design performs the best. During the competition, visual and video tape evidence will be used to judge the closeness to the ground and to determine the maximum deceleration of the payload. For this project, the "jumper" will consist of an uncooked egg and the jump will be from the top of Sun Angel stadium.
 

Catapulting a Squash Ball
By Ron Roedel, Arizona State University

The object of this project is to design, build, and operate a catapult that can launch a squash ball with accuracy and repeatablity. The catapult must have a variable range of 10 to 20 feet. The catapult is to be built from a kit of parts (Meccano Set) which are provided to the teams.

CNG Tank Design
By Dr. Joey K. Parker, The University of Alabama

In this lesson, student teams will be designing a tank to store compressed natural gas (CNG) for use in automobiles.  The “client” is a local newspaper publisher, who believes that by operating several newspaper delivery cars on natural gas, the paper can both save money and become more environmentally “friendly.” 

Designing the Optimal Placement of Spaces in a Parking Lot
By Dr. Charles L. Karr, The University of Alabama

The owner of a paved, 100 ft x 200 ft, corner parking lot in a New England town needs her parking lot designed.  She needs someone to design the layout, or how the lines will be painted.  Each student team is being “hired” to do this.

The Heat-Seeking Robot
By Dr. Antonio Garcia, Arizona State University

In this project, student teams design and build a robotic device, which they will use to compete against other teams.  This robotic device will search a 20 foot wide hexagonal area to find a heat source in the least amount of time.  The students will also design the control logic (program) for their devices.  

Ping-Pong Ball Launcher
By P.K. Imbrie, Texas A&M University (Currently at Purdue University)

The project entails designing, analyzing, constructing and reporting on a launcher which will propel a Ping-Pong ball, in flight, for any distance from as little as one foot to a maximum of thirty five feet and have the Ping-Pong ball impact a target point with the highest degree of accuracy.  Each team will be responsible for preparing a project proposal, developing the design itself, and writing a final report.  This team project is the “Integrated Project” portion of the students’ final grade in Chemistry, Engineering, English, Math and Physics. 

Rubberband Powered Car
By P.K. Imbrie, Texas A&M University (Currently at Purdue University)

For this project, students will work in teams to design a rubber band powered “car,” using only the materials provided to them by the instructor and following given design constraints.  Upon completion of the project, teams will enter the vehicles in a competition against the other student teams and turn in a team written report detailing the project and their design.

The Seismometer
By Dr. Ron Roedel, Arizona State University

In this project, students design, construct and use a seismometer to examine mechanical vibrations transmitted through the earth.  They will look at early models of amateur seismometers and research those models for design ideas.  The project integrates the physics and calculus that the students are currently learning with engineering modeling and design components.

The Slingshot Project
By Dr. Ron Roedel, Arizona State University

Student teams work together to design and build a slingshot device that will launch a squash ball through a given horizontal and vertical location in space.  The students are provided with a plastic water balloon slingshot that has a basket that is the perfect size for holding a squash ball.  Each team is to design a device made of lumber that will hold the plastic slingshot and that can be mounted on a given cart to conduct the specified launch.  The slingshot device must be able to reproducibly launch the squash ball. 

Traveling Water
By  Jeffrey Froyd, Texas A&M University

Student teams will be creating water-powered vehicles given certain restrictions and guidelines as to vehicle weight, power source, and budget considerations.  A competition to display the vehicles will be held about 5 weeks into the project.

Stream Pollution Remediation
Developed by Dr. Gary C. April and Dr. Joey K. Parker

Bridge Design Competition
Developed by the First Year Engineering Program faculty at Ohio State University (with support from the Gateway Engineering Education Coalition and NSF)

The purpose of this competition is to provide students with a structured activity that will allow them to work as a team in a time-restricted project. The exercise is designed to foster an ability to apply scientific and engineering knowledge to a practical construction problem. This is meant to be a challenging but enjoyable exercise. Each team will be expected to design and fabricate a balsawood bridge to span a distance of 10”. The bridges will be tested to failure during the competition in Lab 4. Each team is required to submit a memorandum report.

Engineering Disciplines Oral Presentation
Developed by the First Year Engineering Program faculty at Ohio State University (with support from the Gateway Engineering Education Coalition and NSF)

The purpose of this project is to provide a better understanding of the different engineering disciplines offered at The Ohio State University. Students will be divided into teams. Each team will prepare a presentation on a discipline to be presented to their lab section in Lab 10. This presentation serves as a means for students to learn, in-depth, about a major outside of their areas of interest. The assumption is that students haven’t had much information presented to them about these disciplines and opportunities afforded by them. After the presentations, each student will be armed with sheets of information about 9 different disciplines and will learn a little something more about each in order to make a better-informed decision on their career goals. Students should put into it what they expect to get out of it. In other words, the more detailed they get, the more they will help each other and vice versa.

Recyclables Sorting Mechanism Design Project
Developed by the First Year Engineering Program faculty at Ohio State University (with support from the Gateway Engineering Education Coalition and NSF)

Each team will design, build and test a sorting mechanism to attach to a standardized conveyor system to sort recyclables. As natural resources become scarcer and difficult to extract, an efficient method of sorting recyclables and economically reprocessing them will become necessary. The United States is the world's leading producer of waste. Recycling some of that waste reduces the landfill space required, the amount of natural resources exploited, and the energy used to maintain our standard of living.